torture

1 of 2

noun

tor·​ture ˈtȯr-chər 

1

: the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure

2

a

: something that causes agony or pain

b

: anguish of body or mind : agony

3

: distortion or overrefinement of a meaning or an argument : straining

torture

2 of 2

verb

tortured; torturing

ˈtȯrch-riŋ,

ˈtȯr-chə- 

transitive verb

1

: to cause intense suffering to : torment

2

: to punish or coerce by inflicting excruciating pain

3

: to twist or wrench out of shape : distort, warp

torturer

ˈtȯr-chər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• nightmare
• agony
• misery
• torment
• horror
• murder

Verb

• plague
• persecute
• afflict
• torment
• attack

Choose the Right Synonym for torture

afflict, try, torment, torture, rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear.

afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

Examples of torture in a Sentence

Noun

Waiting is just torture for me.

Listening to him can be torture.

Verb

The report revealed that prisoners had been repeatedly tortured.

Don't torture yourself over the mistake.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Meanwhile, Palestinian doctors said some of the roughly 120 bodies Israel has returned to Gaza bore signs of torture or execution, and most had bands on their necks, the Associated Press reported. —Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Odinga described the harsh conditions of imprisonment and alleged torture, including an assault by a police officer who hit him with a wooden table leg. —CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025

Verb

Donnelly, meanwhile, recalled on the witness stand how he was repeatedly drowned, tortured and raped by Gacy, per court documents. —Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025

To the thousands of Syrians who lost loved ones, or were tortured, imprisoned or displaced by the Assad regime, their homeland had become a crime scene from which the top suspects disappeared en masse. —Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin tortura, from Latin tortus, past participle of torquēre to twist; probably akin to Old High German drāhsil turner, Greek atraktos spindle

First Known Use

Noun

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing torture

• self-torture

Rhymes for torture

• rapporteur

Kids Definition

torture

1 of 2 noun

tor·​ture ˈtȯr-chər 

1

: distress of body or mind

2

: the causing of great pain especially to punish or to obtain a confession

torture

2 of 2 verb

tortured; torturing ˈtȯrch-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to cause great suffering to

2

: to punish or force someone to do or say something by causing great pain

torturer

ˈtȯr-chər-ər 

noun

Etymology

Noun

from French torture "causing of intense pain or agony," from Latin tortura "act of twisting," from earlier tortus, past participle of torquēre "to twist" — related to distort, extort, retort